Clinton J. Johnson U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma
A Tulsa man has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison after an incident outside a local bar where he pointed a firearm at people. U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Carl Anthony Epps, II, 43, to 84 months imprisonment and five years of supervised release for carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to court records, the February 2024 incident began when Epps was asked to leave a bar due to harassing other patrons. After being removed from the premises, Epps threatened an employee and claimed he had a gun in his vehicle. Witnesses reported that Epps then drove his vehicle in front of the bar and pointed a rifle equipped with a green laser at the employee. Responding officers located Epps and observed the firearm inside his vehicle.
Epps will remain in custody until he is transferred to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Tulsa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson stated: "This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN."
